Perugia Chief Prosecutor Raffaele
Cantone and National Anti-mafia Prosecutor Giovanni Melillo have
asked to report to the head of two parliamentary commissions
over a case of allegedly spying by a policeman on a number of
high-profile politicians and celebrities that has sparked alarm.
Finance police officer Pasquale Striano is accused of illegally
accessing the data of a wide range of public figures while he
was deployed at the National Anti-mafia Prosecutor's Department.
These include Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, Business Minister
Adolfo Urso, Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, Labour
Minister Marina Elvira Calderone, Environment and Energy
Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Silvio Berlusconi's
former partner and MP Marta Fascina, ex-premiers Giuseppe Conte
and Matteo Renzi, pop star Fedez, soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo
and Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Melillo and Cantone have asked to report to the president of the
parliamentary anti-mafia commission and the head of the
parliamentary committee for the security of the republic, as
well as to the judiciary's self-governing body, the CSM.
Prosecutors believe that some of the data allegedly obtained by
Striano via illegal access to databases was used for journalist
purposes, sources said.
Indeed, a number of journalists are among around 15 people under
investigation in relation to the case.
Other data may have been passed on to a private investigator or
used by Striano for personal purposes.
Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini's League
party called for the present and past heads of the finance
police and the National Anti-mafia Prosecutor's Department to
report on the case.
"We are faced with an attack on the Republic and on democracy,"
the League said.
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